Word Origin & History

obit late 14c., "death," from L. obitus "death," pp. of obire, lit. "to go toward" (see obituary). In modern usage (since 1874) it is usually a clipped form of obituary, though it had the same meaning of "published death notice" 15c.-17c. The scholarly abbreviation ob. with date is from L. obiit "(he) died," third person sing. of obire.

Example Sentences for obit

At every months mind, years mind, or obit, the curate has 8d.

If the mother just died, you could at least get an obit out of it, she explained.

In return the college undertook to keep an obit for him every year.

Colchester and the Convent covenanted to observe the Bishop's obit—September 18—which we know they did to the last.

In 1493 he established at University College an obit for the widow of Warwick the king-maker.

The priests, grateful for the efforts he had made to further their comfort, decided to keep his obit.

Two shillings and two pence for an obit, the price whereof in S. Pauls, in London, was forty shillings!